Have the Jaguars and Austin Seferian-Jenkins parted ways?
By David Levin
Despite a comment made by Austin Seferian-Jenkins on his Twitter account, the Jacksonville Jaguars say they have not made a decision on the tight end’s contract for 2019.
Two sides. Two different messages. The Jacksonville Jaguars stated they have not made a decision on the future of tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins despite a message on his Twitter account about his time with the team is apparently over.
Seferian-Jenkins was signed last offseason but played in only five games last year do to a core injury that landed him on the injured reserve list. Seferian-Jenkins, 26, was expected to help the Jaguars offense, becoming the big pass-catching tight end the team lacked in the passing game.
"As Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com wrote last night, “The Jaguars say they have not made a decision regarding the 2019 option on TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ contract, despite a tweet from Seferian-Jenkins in which he said he appreciated his time in Jacksonville but it was time for the next chapter in his career. The Jaguars have until Feb. 19 to decide whether to pick up the option year or allow Seferian-Jenkins to become a free agent.”"
The Jaguars added Seferian-Jenkins in free agency last year to a two-year, $10 million contract with $4 million guaranteed last March. The Jaguars have the option of picking up his second-year of the deal. The former second-round pick out of Washington in 2014 was one of several players on offense for the Jaguars that missed significant time due to injuries.
Jacksonville finished 31st in the league in scoring offense at 15.6 points per game.
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"“The team has not made a decision on his 2019 option,” team spokesman Tad Dickman said, per DiRocco. “Any reports to the contrary are false.”"
Whether the organization keeps Seferian-Jenkins on the rosteror not in 2019, the offense could look notciably different this coming season under new coordinator John DiFillippo. Changes are expected at quarterback, on the offensive line and potentially with new playmakers amongst the wide receivers.
The Jaguars have not gotten solid production out of the tight end position since Marcedes Lewis was named to the Pro Bowl in 2010.
The Jaguars could look to and a tight end in free agency or draft one in the later rounds in April. James O’Shaughnessy, Blake Bell and Ben Koyack are currently the other players listed at the position on the roster.
O’Shaughnessy and Bell are set to become free agents in March. Koyack is under contract through 2019.